23 Comments

The story of von Spee's squadron is one of the great tragic tales of naval history. He was stuck quite literally on the other side of the world when war erupted. Meaning he had no realistic way to get home, merely to sell his ships and men as dearly as possible.

Which he did.

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They corollary to "You go to war with what you have, not what you wish you had" is "You start war where your forces are, not where you wish they were." Be that the other side of the world, deep inside the enemy's op area, or in dry dock partially disassembled with holes cut in your side.

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Like two heavy weight boxers in the ring and one has an inch of reach advantage. 22 hits by 8.2 inch- no serious damage and only one injury? Oh that we could build such ships today to bear so much damage and continue in the fight.

Full Bore to Sturdee and his minions. The Gods of War will not be so kind in 27 years.

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If I could gawk at text, I sure would have, reading all those big hits by big guns. Our thin-skinned ships of today would be likely mission-killed in one hit and sunk with several more. I stood watch as an EW1 on CVA-19 in the early 70's and just outside the EW Room was a still noticeable battle scar from Okinawa. I was told it was inflicted by a kamikaze. Memory of that battle scar tells me I had it easy in my Navy time. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-japan/kamikaze/okinawa-damage-usn-ships/ten-go-april-6-7/80-g-328411.html

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How dare you sir. Have you not heard of the LCS? Formidable warship, that! I know this because Big Navy bought so many! They would never buys so much it it were not, right?

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Meh. How dare I, Sir? From the safety of my keyboard. When I get my Navy retirement check & Social Security check, I buy another 500 rounds of steel case Russian Wolf 7.62x39 and a couple of boxes of 1950's milsurp .45 ACP 230gr ball and milspec .38 Special 158gr LRN. It's called stockpiling, LT B. Gainsay Big Navy not, please. We call it stockpiling. It is what prudent Navy's and Boomers do. Game, Set, & Drift.

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Logistics are key! Might I add, those are rookie numbers, you gotta bump those up! :-)

A girl asked me, "How much ammo and how many guns do you really need?"

And my retort? "How many shades of lipstick and how many pairs of shoes do you need?" *Nevermind*

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~65K rounds. Components to reload ~30K more. Maybe 180 gats. 7 or so swords. Am looking for a reasonably priced coehorn mortar.

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Now you're talking!!

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That's the hell of it, isn't it. Dependency of electronics risks making one good shot a mission kill even if the crew controls the damage and remains underway. They best you have left is ramming. Kinda like a Marine with night vision and lit illuminated reticles on their optics for their rifle but no iron sights. You break the glass and you have a very expensive club (spear if you have a bayonet). With electronics, you may still have a 5" and a magazine full of shells, but without an analog, optical fire control system and the means to launch flares for a night battle? Pfht! I happened to have re-watched Capt. Rinn's DC presentation on the USNA Museum's YouTube this week because I was looking for pull quote. The Sammy B may have had a fire and flooding going on, but she had functional APUs and foward power to throw a missile up on the rail when the IRN Salaban came calling, thus she wasn't a complete mission kill.

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The 1 Able analog NGFS computer aboard CLG-5 was a marvel to behold. It was equal parts the inventiveness of Doctor Zarkov from Planet Mongo and Rube Goldberg. We placed many a 5" and 6" rounds on target through the divination of a Comanche Board, the incantations of the ANGLICO shaman and radar fixes on a chart astride the DRT altar and did it with the precision of a Lawn Darts contest at a Sunday Methodist picnic. The only thing I'll grant to modernity, doing it 20 years later on CG-55, was that the migraine was of lesser intensity.

Inspirational, NEC338X:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un01zw62n70&ab_channel=USNAMuseum

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“Ares hates those who hesitate.” Euripides

It happens in all times. The nature of men and war doesn’t change much. Von Spee did his duty as best he could, as did Sturdee.

And public complaining about ammunition usage when winning strikes me as petulant. Use it effectively, but find what works and what does not!

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"Germany expects that every man will do his duty." To the tune of over 2,000 men.

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Our Asiatic Fleet did the same in 1941 and 42.

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During my CPO Initiation, I had the honor to meet Bob Hanley, one of the few remaining survivors of USS HOUSTON (CA-30). He was a Hospital Apprentice when the War began, and ended up as top assistant to a Dutch Major providing medical care to POW’s.

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That's exactly the person Selectees should be meeting (If I maybe so bold and presumptuous.)

It seems like you just made Chief as well.

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It was deeply appropriate, and it is correct that I was selected by the most recent board.

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Every nation that built capital ships had its own aesthetic and the German cruisers were beautiful. I hate that there aren't more full-hull model kits of pre-dreadnaughts and cruisers of the era.

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They're gorgeous, and so are the Italian transitional battleships (Regina Elena class) designed by Cuniberti.

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Von Spee was doomed when war was declared. He made a valiant effort , butggiven the sea power facts, stood no chance. Honor their bravery--yes. Learn the lessons.

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A real live gut bustin' Navy war. Thanks for the ability to see how it occurred.

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This pirate hunting Indian vessel, the INS Chennai (D65) is a good looking warship.

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